Artificial wombs could someday be a reality – here’s how they may change our notions of parenthood

Our reproductive lives are considerably different from those of our ancestors, thanks in part to health innovations that have taken place over the past few decades. Practices such as IVF, donor eggs and sperm, womb transplants, surrogacy and egg freezing, mean that for many, there’s now more choice than ever before over whether, when and […]

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World AIDS Day celebrates communities working to end the disease

This year’s commemoration pays tribute to the people and organizations that have been on the frontlines of the disease – from fighting stigma and discrimination, to advocating for access to affordable interventions and community-led services. They “have left an indelible mark on the world with their activism,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.  Advocacy and impact  Innovations such […]

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Doctors treating hostages: They don’t teach this in medical school

In a historic moment, Sheba Hospital welcomed 12 hostages released from Hamas captivity that first day of the ceasefire. Dr. Moshe Ashkenazi, deputy director of Safra Children’s Hospital, described the overwhelming emotions felt by the medical staff during this significant event. Although none of the hostages required immediate medical intervention upon arriving at the […]

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Does having children make you happier? Here’s what the research suggests

The prevailing belief in many parts of the world is that having children is key to happiness – and that people who don’t have children are unfulfilled in their lives. But is this really the case? The answer to this question is both simple and complex – and the fulfilment you feel in your life, […]

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World News in Brief: South Sudan aid plan, rising cost of healthy eating, Europe’s diabetes burden

The conflict in neighbouring Sudan has had an impact on the country’s economy, increasing the prices of food and the number of vulnerable people who need assistance. It is estimated that 7.1 million people in South Sudan will continue to be food insecure during the lean season, which runs from April to July, while roughly […]

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IDF changes food allergy policy against expert medical advice

Israeli soldiers who suffer from food allergies and rely on epinephrine autoinjectors (epipens) for emergencies have been able to join the IDF with specific medical profiles that allow them to serve in various front line positions with certain restrictions. However, in recent weeks, numerous soldiers and IDF personnel have expressed their surprise and dismay […]

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Nazi doctors weren’t just ‘a few bad apples’, shows report – and simplistic stories won’t help guard against future medical abuses

Extraordinary evil involves a total moral collapse across society caused by failure of individual humanity and ethical judgment. This was the conclusion of the philosopher Hannah Arendt after witnessing the trial of Adolf Eichmann – the chief architect of the Holocaust – in Jerusalem. Medicine, which is supposed to alleviate human suffering, became a willing […]

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Swine flu makes post-pandemic return as UK detects human infection

A case of A(H1N2)v infection, also known as Swine flu, was detected in the north of England, according to media reports. The last pandemic of the disease was in 2009 after a mass outbreak spread from birds and pigs to humans.  The anonymous individual who was found to have contracted the infection did not work […]

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Stem cell therapy shows promise for treating multiple sclerosis – new study

Over 2 million people globally have multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that affects the nervous system and can lead to problems moving, seeing and thinking. While there are treatments that can help reduce the number and severity of MS attacks, many people with MS eventually develop a more severe form of the disease called secondary […]

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War and health crisis in Gaza a ‘recipe for epidemics’ warns WHO

WHO’s Dr. Mike Ryan was briefing journalists at UN Headquarters and added that “so many children” remain in danger, as fighting between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces continues, from hostages to those living under bombardment with no safe place to shelter. Up to 1,500 children in Gaza remain missing – many likely under rubble – […]

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